East FW residents resent redistricting

[Judi Lynn]

East FW residents resent redistricting
GOP remap leaves area at mercy of suburban north, residents say

12:00 AM CST on Sunday, December 18, 2005
By JEFF MOSIER / The Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH – Most residents of East Fort Worth can't afford to donate thousands of dollars to candidates and campaigns.

The residents of the predominantly black and low-income area have traditionally had only one weapon in their electoral arsenal: the vote. Community leaders said candidates wanting their support – and a seat in Congress – had to stop by their church services, attend their civic events and pay attention to their needs.

Many in this Democratic stronghold now worry that they are politically defenseless after redistricting placed them in a GOP district they say was gerrymandered to dilute minority votes.
(snip)

However, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision Monday to hear a lawsuit filed by East Fort Worth voters, along with three other cases challenging the legality of the new districts, has given Democrats a chance to make their arguments.
(snip/...)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-redistrict_18met.ART0.North.Edition2.3dca94e.html
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[napi21]

1. I'm very happy to hear that minority rights is their grounds in this

suit. That's the ONE single ruling the SCOTUS has made AGAINST redistricting. I don't have the link right now, but I posted it several days ago. There have been a number of cases heard by the SCOTUS regarding redistricting, and the only firm decision against it has been infringing on minority rights. That gives me strong reason to believe this court will vote against the DeLay tactics!

[fasttense]

2. I don't believe principle will win out over cronyism and party loyalty

with the dancing Supremes. They are hand picked by repuke political bosses. They wont turn on their masters. Just look how they danced for the right wing when they heard the Florida case in 2000. They selected our President and ruled NOT to count votes. Just think about that decision to NOT count votes. Do you really believe the Supremes have any principles or integrity left?

[acmejack]

3. Unfortunately, I must agree.

I never would have dreamed that I would become so cynical about our Governmental institutions. But the history is difficult to argue with, they sold us, the People, out in 2000 and lost their moral authority when they did so.

[BlueCollar]

4. as a resident of Fort Worth

I'd like to be optimistic about this but I have to agree with those who believe that nothing will come out of this. This court doesn't have the integrity to correct the actions of the Texas lege and we can count on GOP domination of Tarrant County for awhile.

I'm guessing we're stuck with this until after the next census at a minimum.